Door stop



Dec. 6, 1955 BENNETT 2,726,109

DOOR STOP Filed June 2, 1954 F1 E G 4 INVENTOR.

'4 GEORGE T. BENNETT,

477URNEY United States Patent DOOR'STOP George .T. Bennett, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Application June 2, 1954,Serial No. 433,921

.3 Claims. (Cl. 292-167) This "invention relates to improvements in door stops and has particular reference to a door stop that is wholly housed within the door.

The invention has for itsobject the provision of a door;.stop that is provided with a spring-loaded foot and means whereby the foot may be elevated to an inactive position .and latched in such position under the influence of -a.'novel mechanism that is wholly .recessedwithin the leading edge of the door to present no obstacle to the freely closing movement of the door.

The invention contemplates novel means for elevating the spring-loaded foot to a latched position, and which means is automatically retracted to a position where it lies substantially flush with the edge of .the door and novel :means for tripping the latch means to a position where the spring-loaded foot will be projected to contacting engagement with the floor.

Various features of novelty and operation will be more .clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred form 'of the device and wherein like characters of reference are .employed to denote like parts, throughout the several i figures. 1

In the-drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a closure door having the invention applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal section taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2 and, Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section corresponding substantially to Figure 2 but illustrating the latch means for retaining the spring-loaded .foot in elevated position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a conventional closure door having a leading edge 6. At a pre-determined elevation, the edge 6, has been recessed inwardly, as at 7., The door, as clearly shown in Figure 2, has been vertically apertured, as at 8 .and 9, with the aperture 8 opening upon the bottom edge of the door, while the aperture 9 communicates with the recess 7 and with the apertures being communicating with each other for a purpose to be presently described. Rigidly fixed with respect to the edge of the door to be flush therewith is a generally rectangular frame 10. The frame 10 extends into the recess 7 and is rigidly mounted with respect to the door by screws 11. The forward wall 12 of the frame is provided with an elongated and preferably rectangular-opening 13 and a smaller generally rectangular opening 14. The frame 10 is provided with an inwardly extending tubular guide lug 1'5 and with the opening of the guide lug being in axial alignment with the aperture 9 of the door. Disposed within the aperture 8 is a cylindrical sleeve 16 having an apertured upper end portion 17 and with its lower .end formed open. A second sleeve '13 has telescopic engagement within the sleeve 16 and with the sleeve 18 having an open upper end and a closed apertured lower end 19.. The aperture of the lower end is threaded for threaded engagement with an elevating rod 20. The rod 20 at its lower end projects beyond the end 19 and has in adjustable threaded engagement therewith a presser foot 21. The threaded end of the rod 20 is likewise adjustable with respect to the sleeve 18, whereby the sleeve 18 and the foot 21 may 2,726,109 "i atented Dec. 6, 1955 be adjustable to the varying distances between the 'bottorn'edge'of the door and the floor. A compression spring 22 is disposed over the rod 20 and simultaneously engages the upper-end 17 of the sleeve 16 and the end '19 of the sleeve '18. Thus, the sleeve 18, together with the rod 20,

is urged downwardly under the influence of the spring 22 for shifting the foot 21 to a floor engaging stop position for the door. The foot 21 is preferably provided with a cushion pad 23. The rod 20, at its upper end, is pivotally connected, as at 24, to a rod extension 25, while the rod extension 25 at its upper end is pivotally connected, as at 26, to an-elevating latch device, designated as a whole by the numeral 27. The rod 25 has sliding engagement through the guide lug 16, as shown.

The latch 27 comprises a preferably fiat latch plate 28 that is notched intermediate its length, as at 29, to form a latch dog 30 that is adapted to have latching engagement with a web portion 31 that spans the frame 10. The plate 28, at its 'lower end, is angled outwardly at 32 and with its terminal end being apertured for the reception of the pivotal connection 26 of the rod 25. The

upper end of the plate 28 has been apertured for the receptoward and from the web 31 under the influence of an 1 elevating device, to be described.

Pivotally supported within the frame by a cross-pin 35 is an elevating device that embodies an actuator plate 36 that normally has flush engagement within the opening 13. The plate 36 is provided with a preferably integral and inwardly extending body portion 37 that is rotatably supported upon the pin 35 in a manner to permit the plate 36 to swing in a vertical plane. The body portion 37 is provided with a pair of spaced apart rods 38, preferably integral therewith and with the rods 38 extending downwardly and curved inwardly in parallel relation to terminate in rigid connection with a weighted head portion 39. The rods 38 engage upon opposite sides of the plate 28 and underlie the rollers 34. As shown in Figure 2, with the foot 21 in floor engaging position, the rollers 34 are in contacting and supporting engagement within the cradle formed 'by the rods 38. The rods 20 and 25 and associated elements are thus limited in their downward movement by the resting support of the rollers upon the rods 38. A kick-off latch release has been provided, whereby the latch 27 may be shifted from the web 31 to a release position. This release means comprises a block 40 that is pivotally supported at 41 within the frame 10. The block 40 is freely swinga'ble upon the pivot 41 and is weighted in such manner as to cause its forward exposed end 42 to engage within the opening 14 and to normally lie flush with the face of the frame 10. The opposite end of the block 41) has contacting engagement with an edge of the plate 28 when the plate is in the latching position, shown in Figure 4. The block 40, as exposed through the opening 14, may be engaged by the thumb of the operator to shift the dog 30 from its latching position upon the web 31 to permit the plate 28, the rods 25 and 2t and the presser foot 21, to be projected downwardly to floor engaging position. A pair of parallel lips 42 carried by the frame 10 are disposed upon opposite sides of the latch plate 28 and prevent any tendency of the plate to shift laterally. The lower edge of the door may be counterbored as at 43 to permit the full recessing of the foot 21 at such times as there is relatively little clearance between the bottom edge of the door and the floor.

In the use of the device, assuming the parts to be arranged in mortised engagement within the door, clearly shown, and with the foot 21 and its associated sleeve 18 having been vertically adjusted upon the rod 20,1the operator presses upon the block 49 through the opening 14, shifting the plate 21 from its latched engage- 3 ment with the web 31 to permit the spring 22 to project the sleeve 18 and the foot 21 downwardly to a firm contacting engagement with the floor. In this released and floor engaging position, if the foot 21 and sleeve 18 have been properly adjusted, the rollers 34 will be resting within the cradle formed by the rods 38. Now, when the stop is to be released for normally swinging of the door, the operator presses inwardly upon the lower end of the plate 36, causing the upper end of the plate to move forwardly from its opening 13. The operator then engages his finger behind the forwardly shifted upper end and then employing the plate 36 as a lever, shifts it downwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. This action causes the curved rods 38 to engage beneath the rollers 34 and elevates the latch plate 28 through a combined elevating and rolling motion. At the maximum point of elevation of the rods 38, the rollers travel inwardly upon the rods and shift the latch plate inwardly to a position where the dog 30 engages over the web 31. The operator then releases the plate 36 and permits it to automatically swing to its initial flush position under the influence of the weight 39, thus assuring that the plate 36 will at no time be permitted to extend beyond the edge of the door as a hazard against the catching of clothing thereon. The entire mechanism is thus fiush mounted and has no objectionable projections and does not detract from the apeparance of the door. The device is mounted within the door after the door has been mortised to form the recess 7 and drilled vertically to form the apertures 8 and 9. The purpose of providing the pivotal connection 24 is to facilitate the installation of the rod 20, since the frame and associated parts must of necessity be pre-assembled before installation. Thus, when the plate is to be installed, the rod 20 is first inserted downwardly through the aperture 9 and, due to the short extension 25, the frame 10 may be rocked into position and secured by the screws 11. After the rod 20 has been installed, it normally projects below the bottom of the opening 8. The sleeve 8 is then forcefitted within the opening 8, where it will be frictionally held against displacement. The spring 22 then engaged upon the rod 20 and the sleeve 18 telescope into the sleeve 16 to a point where its end 19 will engage the threaded end of the rod 20. The sleeve 18 is then progressively turned to impart a desired tension upon the spring. The foot 21 is then threaded upon the lower extended end of the rod 20 and a lock nut employed, if desired.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form of door stop has been provided. All of the parts have been recessed into flush engagement with the edge of the door and are operated in a simple manner requiring no adjustments other than the foot 21. The elevating plate 36 and its associated rods 38 provide a novel means for elevating and shifting the latch plate toward the web 31. The weighting of the inner ends of the rods 38 assures that the elevating plate 36 will always automatically shift to its flush position with respect to the door. The parts are few and simple, are strong, durable and are of such nature as to have a relatively long life without attention. The device is cheap to manufacture, easily installed, and provides a highly effective door stop that in no way detracts from the appearance of the door.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall Within the spirit of the invention as determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A door stop of the character described that is mounted in a mortise within the leading edge of a closure door to be flush therewith, the door stop including a frame having a closure wall and with the frame being flanged to engage within the mortise opening, a spring loaded foot that is vertically shiftable and which is adapted to have a stop engagement with a floor area directly beneath a bottom edge of the door, an elevating rod that is operable in a vertical plane and which is shiftable within a vertical opening formed upwardly from the bottom edge of the door and which opening communicates with the mortise opening, an upper extension connected with the rod and which passes through a guide lug carried by the frame, an elevating latch device that is pivotally connected with the upper end of the extension, the upper end of the latch device being provided with anti-friction rollers, an actuating lever that is pivotally supported within an opening formed in the closure wall of the frame to swing in a forward vertical plane, rods carried by the lever and which extend into the mortise opening and underlie the anti-friction rollers, the lever when swung forwardly serving to elevate the lever rods for shifting the latch upwardly to a position of latched engagement with the frame, the lever rods being weighted whereby the rods and the lever will freely return to a normal position with the lever in flush arrangement with the closure wall when the lever is released, a latch trip device that is pivotally supported within the frame and which has a finger engaging forward face that is flush with the forward face of the closure wall, the closure wall being provided with an opening for the trip device, an inner face of the trip device having contacting engagement with an edge of the elevating latch device whereby pressure upon the forward face will disengage the latch device, the latch device when released permitting the spring loaded foot to be projected to floor engaging position.

2. The door stop according to claim 1, wherein the rods of the actuating lever are spaced apart and parallel and curved throughout their major length to form a cradle, the rods of the actuating lever being positioned upon opposite sides of the latch device to simultaneously underlie and engage an anti-friction roller disposed upon opposite sides of the latch device, the forward swinging movement of the actuating lever serving to swing the cradle upwardly in a path that lifts the latch device and shifts it toward the frame for latching engagement with a latch engaging web formed on the frame, the free ends of the cradle forming rods being tied together by an overbalancing weight that causes the actuating lever to be lrletracted to a flush position with respect to the closure wa 3. The device. according to claim 1, wherein the spring loaded foot is adjustably engaged with a threaded lower end of the elevating rod, the lower end of the vertical door opening being enlarged for the fixed reception of a cylindrical housing and with the housing being concentric with the rod and with its lower end formed open, the elevating rod passing through the housing and projecting below the lower end thereof for connection with the foot, a telescoping tube having an open upper end and a lower apertured end that is threaded for threaded engagement with the lower portion of the elevating rod to be adjustable therewith, the telescoping tube having a vertical telescopic engagement within the housing, a compression spring engaging over the lower portion of the rod and with its opposite ends bearing against the upper end of the housing and the lower end of the tube for urging the tube and the rod downwardly in a direction to shift the foot to fioor engaging position, the elevating rod, the housing, the telescopic tube and the attached foot being axially aligned whereby the tube and the associated foot may be vertically elevated under the influence of the elevating movement of the latch device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,225,285 Swaim May 8, 1917 

